Is the medallion mandatory?

[TRLD]

1 hour ago, cruisestitch said:

Hmmm I get that they know about activity and purchases whether with a card or with the medallion. But with the medallion, they also know your location, or at least the location of the medallion. And I do find that a little disturbing.

If they have a reason to look, for specific purposes.

 

No reason for someone to go let's watch this person today. 

 

More paranoia than a real concern.

 

On the other being able to find other members of out travel group is quite handy. We miss that on other lines.

[rocker57]

Worried about a medallion that can track you on the ship, but probably has no issue with using a smart phone, computer, credit card, social media (like CC)

[WisCruiser2]

2 hours ago, mhbtravel said:

If a person has a pace maker can he use the medallion?

As noted above, should be no problem. DH uswd his with lanyard, was more than 6 inches from pacemaker, or could put on belt loop or wrist. He was also told that the security scanners are not a problem as long as he doesn't stop in it.

But check with your cardiologist or device manufacturer.

[SCX22]

34 minutes ago, TRLD said:

On the other being able to find other members of out travel group is quite handy. We miss that on other lines.

 

Maybe it's weird that we always carry our cellphones with us, but on other lines and even on Princess, we text each other through WhatsApp or iMessage to find each other.

[Alakegirl]

After an unfortunate incident which happened to my niece when she was stalked by an acquaintance, we are all a little jumpy and have turned off location services on our phones.  I am relieved to know that we can do the same on the ship.

[skynight]

4 minutes ago, Alakegirl said:

After an unfortunate incident which happened to my niece when she was stalked by an acquaintance, we are all a little jumpy and have turned off location services on our phones.  I am relieved to know that we can do the same on the ship.

Only passengers that you permit can locate you on the ship. I would suspect that there are certain procedures and certain crew that are allowed to access your location. 

Edited June 6 by skynight

[SCX22]

4 minutes ago, Alakegirl said:

After an unfortunate incident which happened to my niece when she was stalked by an acquaintance, we are all a little jumpy and have turned off location services on our phones.  I am relieved to know that we can do the same on the ship.

 

This is why I introduce myself with my nickname that's just my initials on the ship and not the name I used on the booking.  Nothing to do with the Medallion but with the App...if you try and add a shipmate, the photo and first and last name autopopulate for all matches.  Too creepy for me.  Don't need people knowing my full name.  Princess' taking the last name off the door panels an replacing it with an initial really didn't solve the entire problem of privacy.  

[cruisinsince75]

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Frau Blucher sitting in the security room...

"Mr. Jones is now on casino slot #4, John Smith is in line at the buffet, he has 2 plates.  Mrs. Roosevelt is smoking in the deck 7 restroom, Bart Simpson is swinging from the art sculpture in the Piazza. Wait, Mr. Jones is now at the craps table in the casino...Bart is now pressing all the buttons in the center mid-ship elevator...HEY! I cannot keep up with all of this! Mr.  & Mrs. Abernathy have just swapped medallions! Someone send security to their location!

I got Mr. Underhills Medallion.  He is wondering how he hit his 25 drink limit so fast on his Package and why was he charged for a bottle of Dom! 🤣  oh and his AMEX # is.... 😆

[Retired-N-Happy]

3 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Hmmm I get that they know about activity and purchases whether with a card or with the medallion. But with the medallion, they also know your location, or at least the location of the medallion. And I do find that a little disturbing.

You do have other options, like continuing to cruise more often on X and just abandoning Princess if the Medallion and it's tracking ability is disturbing to you.

I find it's fabulous that your stateroom door automatically opens for you as you approach and you don't have to reach into your pocket for a cruise card to swipe.  It's really nice if your hands are full with a flat white and a few almond croissants.

[Retired-N-Happy]

31 minutes ago, cruisinsince75 said:

I got Mr. Underhills Medallion.  He is wondering how he hit his 25 drink limit so fast on his Package and why was he charged for a bottle of Dom! 🤣  oh and his AMEX # is.... 😆

Don, could you please advise me on which ship has a 25 drink limit? 😉😉😉

[JF - retired RRT]

6 hours ago, Alakegirl said:

No chance of getting an old fashioned key card?  It creeps me out to be “tracked”

Just wondering...do you have "location" turned off on your cell phone? When on the internet do you use a program that can mask who you are?

[Stosh68]

6 hours ago, Alakegirl said:

No chance of getting an old fashioned key card?  It creeps me out to be “tracked”

You're already being tracked.

 

1.  The keycard knows if you are in your room and a log is kept of every time the door is opened utilizing it.

2.  Have dinner reservations?  They know where you are eating and what time.

3.  Order a drink at a bar?   They know what time you were there and what you drank.

4.  Buy something in the store?  Same thing.

5.  Play in the casino?  Same thing.

6.  Use the app on your phone, even without the internet package?  Ship knows what access point your phone is connected to everywhere you are on the ship and therefore where you are.

7.  Walk anywhere on ship, cameras everywhere except the bathrooms.

8.  Watch TV in your room?  What you watched is logged and somebody is in room watching it.

 

And that's just for starters.

 

If you think you the cruise lines without the medallion don't have logs of every piece of data they can use for marketing, and that most of that data will tell them where you are you are mistaken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cruisestitch]

47 minutes ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

You do have other options, like continuing to cruise more often on X and just abandoning Princess if the Medallion and it's tracking ability is disturbing to you.

I find it's fabulous that your stateroom door automatically opens for you as you approach and you don't have to reach into your pocket for a cruise card to swipe.  It's really nice if your hands are full with a flat white and a few almond croissants.

I used to cruise Princess quite often, but that was before the medallion. In fact, I’m one of my last cruises the medallion was supposed to be introduced, but it wasn’t ready yet and we got some onward credit as an apology. Anyway, I am now looking at some interesting Princess itineraries that Celebrity isn’t offering.

[Rick&Jeannie]

You know, a lot of us (myself included) have had some fun with this topic...but we have shifted the focus of the thread to why the OP feels the way that they do. A simple question was asked...and the answer is simple. No, the medallion is *not* mandatory...just ask for an old-style cruise card.

Edited June 6 by Rick&Jeannie

[Retired-N-Happy]

22 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

I used to cruise Princess quite often, but that was before the medallion. In fact, I’m one of my last cruises the medallion was supposed to be introduced, but it wasn’t ready yet and we got some onward credit as an apology. Anyway, I am now looking at some interesting Princess itineraries that Celebrity isn’t offering.

Unfortunately Celebrity is in our rearview mirror.  Don't like changes they have done regarding upgrading from the basic to the premium drink package and also don't like the removal of the gratuities from their package as well.  

The Plus package is the best value at sea as far as I'm concerned at 60 per day.  Our cruises in 2022 and 2023 were booked back when it was only 40 per day.  But we currently have 11 cruises booked on Princess all with the Plus package and we'll use OBC towards the Premier upgrade on our Sun and Star sailings.

[latebloomer56]

I think I will like the medallion my husband will get use to the idea. We don't have location turned on for our phones or any device so he feel a little uncomfortable. I had him read though these posts and he did get a chuckle from some, thanks. Just as a note I don't use the app so all those features won't be any use to us, we lock up the phones when we board. I personally like going to the IC counter or bar myself so ordering won't happen.

 

[memoak]

2 hours ago, SCX22 said:

 

This is why I introduce myself with my nickname that's just my initials on the ship and not the name I used on the booking.  Nothing to do with the Medallion but with the App...if you try and add a shipmate, the photo and first and last name autopopulate for all matches.  Too creepy for me.  Don't need people knowing my full name.  Princess' taking the last name off the door panels a replacing it with an initial really didn't solve the entire problem of privacy.  

Do you shred every piece of mail including envelopes  ?  Your mailman knows your name are you sure he isn’t selling it on the dark web

[Rick&Jeannie]

42 minutes ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

But we currently have 11 cruises booked on Princess ....

Wow!

[ecs66]

6 hours ago, Kay S said:

Old habits die hard.

Nothing to do with habits.   Some resent the loss of personal privacy in all walks of their lives.  It's a legit issue.  Sadly, it's an issue that we're stuck with, having slid down that slippery slope over the last 10 years.

[SCX22]

1 hour ago, memoak said:

Do you shred every piece of mail including envelopes  ?  Your mailman knows your name are you sure he isn’t selling it on the dark web

I've met people that are too friendly--intrusive.  You share a table at the buffet and suddenly, and some people think that your BFFs.  There was a lady that tried to add me and my girlfriend as friends on Facebook.  We literally talked to her once on the cruise.  We asked her how she got our names and she said it was through the shipmates function.  We didn't add her, avoided her the entire cruise, and blocked her on Facebook when we got to the airport.

 

People nowadays are crazy!

[Papa Yoda]

Yah.  Being tracked has emotional overtones that we cannot fathom.  The benefits of using medallions on a cruise to us have little to no bearing vis a vis a stalking event.  

 

OP:  I hope you are able to move beyond the events and enjoy cruising.  Overall a cruise ship is itself an exceedingly safe environment so I'm hoping you and family can use the tools that make it easier and more enjoyable.  I can't imagine the pain you've gone through and can only hope Princess will make it work for you!

 

 

[cruisinsince75]

5 hours ago, SCX22 said:

I've met people that are too friendly--intrusive.  You share a table at the buffet and suddenly, and some people think that your BFFs.  There was a lady that tried to add me and my girlfriend as friends on Facebook.  We literally talked to her once on the cruise.  We asked her how she got our names and she said it was through the shipmates function.  We didn't add her, avoided her the entire cruise, and blocked her on Facebook when we got to the airport.

 

People nowadays are crazy!

Yes they are.  We had the opposite.  Had a couple that seemed delightful on the cruise that were part of a group we were traveling with.  Then invited them to share a condo with us in Europe on a land trip.  OMG, 😱 

[wallyj]

8 hours ago, latebloomer56 said:

I think I will like the medallion my husband will get use to the idea. We don't have location turned on for our phones or any device so he feel a little uncomfortable. I had him read though these posts and he did get a chuckle from some, thanks. Just as a note I don't use the app so all those features won't be any use to us, we lock up the phones when we board. I personally like going to the IC counter or bar myself so ordering won't happen.

 

FYI, the APP is useful since the Events listing only has so much room, now that Princess wants to keep it as a one page document.
 

There can be ‘events’ on Journey view that are not in the Patter/Events listing. This was the case on my recent Enchanted sailing out of FLL.

[paddingtonbear]

I haven’t sailed with the medallion yet but I’m really looking forward to being able to find DH after he’s gone on a ship’s engine tour or some other weird event I’m not interested in so I don’t have to wait in the cabin for him to return. 

[latebloomer56]

12 hours ago, SCX22 said:

I've met people that are too friendly--intrusive.  You share a table at the buffet and suddenly, and some people think that your BFFs.  There was a lady that tried to add me and my girlfriend as friends on Facebook.  We literally talked to her once on the cruise.  We asked her how she got our names and she said it was through the shipmates function.  We didn't add her, avoided her the entire cruise, and blocked her on Facebook when we got to the airport.

 

People nowadays are crazy!

Not a new issue before the social media we met a nice couple at the meet and greet. We like our minis for the sofa and balcony and this lovely lady thought because we were on the same roll call we were friends. Invited herself to our cabin after the meet and greet, ok no cabin crawl this trip wants to see a mini, fine. Made herself at home until her husband needed his meds so they left. Next day after slot pull their at our door with food and drinks to eat on our balcony said we were leaving but that was fine they would only stay a few hours 😅. Found out later they do this every cruise, get an inside then use others balconys, to funny now.